IPL V: Reputations take a beating

Kohli's poor form is inexplicable

If the last season was all about creating, and consolidating, reputation, this year it's about damaging it. Bikash Mohapatra takes a look at a few players who have done little in this IPL to bolster their credentials.

They were among the top-most performers for their respective teams in the fourth edition of the Indian Premier League.

There was so much consistency in these players' performances that their teams relied heavily on them. To their credit, more often than not, these guys delivered.

A year later, it is sharp contrast. These players have flattered to deceive their franchises and fans alike. If the last season was all about creating (and consolidating) reputation, this year it's been about damaging it.

Here are a few players who have done little in IPL V to bolster their credentials.

Virat Kohli (Royal Challengers Bangalore)

The 23-year-old finished only behind teammate Chris Gayle (608 runs) in the list of highest scorers last year.

With an aggregate of 557 runs in 16 matches (@ 46.41) Kohli not only added to his growing reputation but also played a crucial role in Royal Challengers Bangalore's run to the final.

He went on to become the lone bright spot in what was otherwise a disastrous tour Down Under. The Delhi batsman carried on with his good form in the subsequent Asia Cup as well.

His poor form in the ongoing tournament is, therefore, inexplicable.

An aggregate of just 129 runs in seven matches has damaged his team's chances besides denting his reputation as a consistent performer. Fortunately for Kohli, though, his teammates Gayle and AB de Villiers have been among the runs in the last few matches.

Valthaty is a pale shadow of himself

He was one of the stars of the fourth edition, a surprise discovery from the Kings XI stables.

While an aggregate of 463 runs in 14 matches (@ 35.61) earned him a place (sixth) among the top 10 batsmen in the tournament, his spectacular 120 not out against Chennai Super Kings was deemed the 'Best Individual Performance', and earned him a luxury car.

However, not much was heard about Valthaty following the tournament. He returned to open the batting for Kings XI this season but has so far been a pale shadow of the player he was last year.

Since he scored only 28 runs in the first five matches, his team was forced to drop him thereafter.

Kings XI have been trying out various combinations and their performance, as a result, is erratic, to say the least.

A record Aravind can do without

However, his performance in the said match, and his record in the previous season, qualifies him for this list.

Aravind picked 21 wickets in 13 matches last year, thereby playing a commendable role in Bangalore's run to the final. He finished only behind the Mumbai Indians duo of Lasith Malinga (28 wickets) and Munaf Patel (22) in the list of highest wicket-takers.

In the ongoing edition, with R Vinay Kumar returning to the fold, Aravind was always going to get lesser opportunities. It was up to him to make the most of what he got.

He was selected to play in the home match against Rajasthan Royals and Aravind was woefully off colour on the day. While nine runs were scored of his first over and 15 from his second, it was in his third over that he gave away a whopping 24 runs.

In that over Ajinkya Rahane hit Aravind for six successive boundaries, a first in the history of the IPL and a dubious distinction that the bowler would like to forget at the earliest.